"Soccer Week" gives fans perfect warm-up for this summer's World Cup

FRISCO, Texas -- The World Cup may still be two months away, but Dallas soccer fans will have the chance to take in as much of the Beautiful Game as they can handle starting this Saturday with what we're calling "Soccer Week." The stars have aligned to produce nine straight days ("Soccer Week-and-a-half" didn't quite have the same ring to it) of MLS, Reserve League and elite youth soccer tournaments in the greater Dallas area.

Saturday, April 12 (Major League Soccer)

It all starts this Saturday when your league-leading FC Dallas hosts U.S. Men's National Team captain and Texas-native Clint Dempsey's Seattle Sounders FC. The match also marks the homecoming of former FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper.

Dempsey and Cooper are both veterans of America's most prestigious youth soccer tournament, and fans will get their chance to see the next generation of stars when Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV kicks off this Sunday. FC Dallas is represented by 15 teams in this year's tournament, including the U-18 Academy team which will once again compete in the heralded Gordon Jago Super Group.

The U-18s kick off their campaign against England's Fulham FC at 12:30pm Sunday at the Cotton Bowl. FCD will also be represented on another team in the Super Group, as Homegrown defender Kellyn Acosta has been called up to the U.S. U-20 national team that will compete in Bracket C. Acosta's U-20 team will play in the last match of Sunday's Cotton Bowl triple header against famed Argentinian side River Plate.

FC Dallas will have 11 other teams in Dallas Cup action on Sunday, with games taking place at Richland College and MoneyGram Soccer Park throughout the day.

Monday, April 14 (Dallas Cup, Generation adidas Cup)

Dallas Cup resumes on Monday, with the FC Dallas U-18s playing Coritiba from Brazil and the U.S. U-20s facing Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt, both at Richland College. FCD will also once again be represented in several other matches Monday evening at Richland College and MoneyGram Soccer Park.

But Monday also marks the opening day of the week's other major international youth tournament, the Generation adidas Cup. The G.a. Cup features U-17 Academy teams from FC Dallas and eight other Major League Soccer progams vying for the championship along with teams from Stoke City (England), Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) and Flamengo (Brazil) as well as every other MLS Academy which will be here playing exhibition matches. Matches will take place at Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco Monday night from 4-10pm with FC Dallas kicking off against the Philadelphia Union at 4pm on Field 8.

Tuesday's a slow day for Dallas Cup, with only three FC Dallas teams in action, all playing at Richland College at 4pm.

There will be another half dozen Generaiton adidas Cup games on Tuesday from 4-10pm at Toyota Soccer Center. The FC Dallas U-17s will be facing the San Jose Earthquakes at 6pm on Field 7.

Fans in the Frisco area that evening can also take in a match between the 2-0-0 FC Dallas Reserves and USL Pro side Oklahoma City Energy FC. OKC is coached by former Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen and is off to a 1-1-0 start in the early USL Pro season. That game will take place in Toyota Stadium at 7:00PM and admission is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 16 (Dallas Cup)

Wednesday is all about Dallas Cup once again as Super Group play resumes with FC Dallas taking on Sweden's IF Brommapojkarna and the U.S. U-20s facing Tigres UANL from Mexico. The time and location of Wednesday's Super Group matches are yet to be determined.

This will also be the last match of group play for FCD's 15 other participating teams, with matches kicking off throughout the day at Richland College and MoneyGram Soccer Park.

Thursday, April 17 (Dallas Cup, Generation adidas Cup)

The U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 Dallas Cup knockout rounds start on Thursday, with FC Dallas potentially having representatives in every division.

Thursday is also the last round of group play in the Generation adidas Cup. All 12 teams will play at Toyota Soccer Center between 4 and 10pm, with FCD kicking off their final match against Chivas de Guadalajara at 4pm on Field 4.

Friday, April 18 (Dallas Cup, Generation adidas Cup)

All eight Dallas Cup age divisions will be playing knockout matches on Good Friday at Richland College and the Cotton Bowl.

The next round of G.a. Cup will also be on Friday. Consolation matches will kick off at 3 and 5pm at Toyota Soccer Center, and the two semifinal matches will be played in Toyota Stadium at 6:30 and 8:30pm, respectively.

Saturday, April 19 (Major League Soccer, Dallas Cup)

The Dallas Cup U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 Championship matches will be played at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday and the U-17 and U-19 non-Super Group semifinals will be at Richland College.

But Saturday night's main event will take place at Toyota Stadium when FC Dallas hosts a revamped Toronto FC. The Canadian side is set to feature USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley, English World Cup-hopeful Jermain Defoe and Brazilian World Cup veteran goalkeeper Julio Cesar.